RS 00615.650: Minimum Sole Survivor's Rate (MSSR)

changes
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~~Effective Dates: 11/09/2016 - Present~~
Effective Dates: 11/15/2017 - Present
TN 26 (01-04)
RS 00615.650 Minimum Sole Survivor's Rate (MSSR)
A. Policy
1. Eligibility
A claimant is eligible for the MSSR if he/she is the only entitled beneficiary on the NH's record and:
* He/she was first eligible before 1982, or
* He/she has a vow of poverty and was eligible before 1992. (See RS 00605.100A.2.), and
* The NH died before 1982. (If the NH was age 62 or disabled before 1982 and died after 1981, the MSSR still applies as long as the claimant was eligible before 1982.)
NOTE: A widow(er) may be entitled to the MSSR but the benefit amount is then subject to age reduction if applicable.
2. More than one person entitled
A claimant is considered to be the only entitled beneficiary even if another person is entitled if that other person is a divorced spouse or surviving divorced spouse paid outside the family maximum as explained in RS 00615.680.
B. Procedure - determining the MSSR amount
1. How to Determine the MSSR Amount
The method to determine the MSSR will vary depending upon the type of PIA computation which applies to any eligibility which the NH has at death, or if the NH is not eligible, the PIA computation which applies to the survivor claim.
a. Before the 1977 amendments
If
* The NH was eligible for a pre 1977 Amendment PIA computation (not the SUB DIB Guarantee PIA), or
* The NH died before 1979 without becoming eligible,
Then the MSSR is equal to the pre 1977 Amendment minimum PIA as increased by COLAs or general benefit increases. Use the chart below to find the applicable MSSR.
Effective Date
MSSR
Effective Date
MSSR
01/59
$33.00
12/89
$231.90
08/61
$40.00
12/90
$244.40
01/65
$44.00
12/91
$253.40
02/68
$55.00
12/92
$261.00
01/70
$64.00
12/93
$267.70
01/71
$70.40
12/94
$275.10
09/72
$84.50
12/95
$282.20
03/74
$90.50
12/96
$290.30
06/74
$93.80
12/97
$296.30
06/75
$101.40
12/98
$300.10
06/76
$107.90
12/99
$307.30
06/77
$114.30
12/00
$318.00
06/78
$121.80
07/01
$318.30
06/79
$133.90
12/01
$326.50
06/80
$153.10
12/02
$331.00
06/81
$170.30
12/03
$337.90
06/82
$182.90
12/04
$347.00
12/83
$189.30
12/05
$361.20
12/84
$195.90
12/06
$373.10
12/85
$201.90
12/07
$381.60
12/86
$204.50
12/08
$403.70
12/87
$213.00
12/11
$418.20
12/88
$221.50
12/12
$425.30
12/13
$431.60
12/14
$438.90
12/16
$440.20
12/17
$449.00
b. 1977 amendments
If the NH's PIA was determined under the 1977 amendment rules (including a SUB DIB Guarantee PIA) the MSSR benefit is $122 plus the COLAs beginning with the year of death, for each year that any survivor is entitled to benefits for at least one month. For example, if a survivor is entitled 4/83, COLAs are added beginning with the one for 1983.
NOTE: The entitlement of survivors on the record may result in increases in the MSSR even though no one is actually receiving the MSSR. For example, a survivor is entitled 4/83 and terminates in 6/83. If another survivor is entitled at a later date all COLAs for 1983 on are added.
2. The 1981 amendments eliminated the minimum benefit
The 1981 Amendments eliminated the Minimum PIA and the MSSR for the NH and survivors who are first eligible for benefits after 1981 except for members of certain religious groups who took a vow of poverty. For those individuals only, the Minimum PIA and MSSR were eliminated for those eligible after 1991.
EXAMPLE: The sole survivor rate for a child who is first eligible for benefits in 1983 (NH dies in 1983) would be computed by the normal benefit rules (75 percent of the PIA). The MSSR would not be considered.

POMS Reference

RS 00615.650: Minimum Sole Survivor's Rate (MSSR)